ES2321850T3 - DISPENSER OF COMPOSITIONS OF TREATMENT OF A RETRETE CUP. - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for releasing a treatment composition into the bowl of a toilet, and a fragrance into the surrounding room, comprises a solid block of a treatment composition in a housing. A block of gel material impregnated with the fragrance fills an opening in a front wall of the housing and is exposed to the housing interior.

Description

Dispenser of treatment compositions A cup of toilet.

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This invention relates to a dispenser for unloading a treatment composition in a cup of toilet, and also for the emission of a fragrance in space surrounding. It also refers to a manufacturing procedure of said dispenser.

Chemical compositions are known for water treatment in a toilet bowl for, for example, clean the cup, disinfect it or to reduce the lime layer accumulated, and can be dispensed from a solid block of material the composition. In addition, gels or others are used in toilets solid carriers of fragrance compositions to allow regular emission of fragrance in the toilet space during a prolonged period of time It is also known from WO 04/032462, for example, the provision in a dispenser of both the treatment composition as well as the composition of fragrance. The two types of composition are contained in cameras separated from a housing that hangs from the edge of the toilet. A Once the toilet is rinsed by water discharge, water drops from the edge of the toilet inside the cup and some of this water flows through the housing, dissolving some of the Treatment composition in your chamber. In this way, the Treatment composition is periodically dispensed, provided that the toilet is rinsed by water discharge, the fragrance will penetrate the surrounding space continuously, and the housing is positioned so that it is protected from rinsing water The gel that contains the fragrance.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of treatment and fragrance compositions with a simple construction that can be easily manufactured and that It presents improved performance.

Consequently, an aspect of the present invention provides a dispenser for unloading a composition of treatment in a toilet, and the emission of a fragrance in the surrounding space, which comprises a first block of the treatment composition, a second block of impregnated material with the fragrance and an accommodation with openings for the admission of water in the housing and to allow drainage from outside the accommodation, and it has an interior space to house the block of the treatment composition in contact with water; keeping the fragrance block housing in such a way that the fragrance block blocks an opening in the wall of the housing and allows a main block surface to fragrance is exposed to the outside of the accommodation and that another main surface of the fragrance block located in front of the above be in fluid communication with the interior space of the accommodation to allow the emission of fragrance through the accommodation openings.

By allowing the inner surface of the Fragrance block communicates with the atmosphere through the openings, the area of the effective surface area of the that the fragrance evaporates, which contrasts with the provisions in which only one surface is exposed. In addition, allowing that the fragrance block is in communication with the interior of the accommodation, there is no need for a barrier between the two cameras of housing, as deemed necessary in WO document 04/032462.

To facilitate the maintenance of the second block housing can be a hollow housing and the opening of the wall have an internally extended flange in the housing, bearing the flange an edge of the fragrance block between its main surfaces facing. The flange can have a extended projection into the opening for the placement of the fragrance block. The flange can have extended projections into the housing beyond of the largest inner surface of the fragrance block, for separate it from the block of the treatment composition.

The wall opening can be on one side of the accommodation that is right in use, and the openings of water intake and allowing drainage can be separated from the opening of the wall so that the fragrance block does not is in the path of water flow conduction between these openings. This reduces the likelihood of the fragrance being dragged by rinse water. Being right the side of the accommodation in the that the wall opening is in use, and the water intake openings and those that allow drainage separated from the wall opening, the flange can protect from Water the edge of the fragrance block.

A hook attached to the housing can be provided to hang it detachably from the edge of a toilet bowl.

The hook can be attached to the housing in a wall that supports the fragrance block.

The accommodation can have support formations internal to support a base of the treatment block in use and allow the flow of water below it.

The fragrance block and the wall opening They may have irregular contours. The block of fragrance can be formed with a decorative figure on its Main outer surface. The fragrance block can be formed of materials of two or more different colors to form a visible figure on its main outer surface.

The accommodation be a molding of a piece of plastic. The housing may be formed of a molding of one-piece plastic in the form of enclained clam shell, one of whose parts consist of the wall covered by the block of fragrance.

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In a special aspect of the invention, the Fragrance block comprises a gel.

The gel may comprise a polymer matrix which has the fragrance scattered inside.

The gel may be formulated to plug the opening the wall and shrink as the fragrance gets evaporates continued despite the plugging of the opening of the wall.

The treatment composition that forms the first block may comprise one or more dyes, a surfactant and a bleach.

The dispenser can be produced by molding the fragrance material inside the wall opening.

The housing may be formed of a plastic molding shell-shaped clam shell, one of whose parts consist of the wall covered by the fragrance block. Next, the clam shells around the block are closed of fragrance, around its hinge, to secure them with each other.

Other features and preferred advantages of the invention will become apparent in the appended claims and In the following description.

In order that the invention can be understood better preferred embodiments of the same, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings Attachments, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a embodiment of the dispenser of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the dispenser of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the dispenser of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side perspective view from behind the dispenser of figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plastic molding before folding it in the configuration shown in figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front part of the dispenser of figure 1, showing a decorated fragrance block, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a embodiment of the invention for use with a toilet cistern Japanese style

A dispenser 10 consists of a housing 8 hole connected to a hook 11. The hook is shaped spiral spring to be detachably hung from the edge of a toilet, so that the housing hangs down as shown in figures 1 to 4. As is known, it is held on the edge by resilient deformation of the spring. A leg part 11 formed integrally with the accommodation and that is projected Radially from an anterior face of the housing, it has a receptacle 14 that receives an end of a part 12 of the spring of which a tip 15 is tapered for easy insertion. A line of notches 13 allows vertical adjustment of spring 12 inside the receptacle 14, to enable adjustment of the vertical piece and adapt to toilets in different ways. The function of the hook is also place the housing directly in the water flow in the inside the toilet bowl when it is rinsed by discharge of water. As shown in figure 2, in a sectional view transverse, the housing has a flat 21 front face connected to a rear part of the cup 26 comprising a curved side wall 29 with a flattened upper part 30, and a back wall 31 slightly curved. As shown more clearly open in figure 5, the housing is formed of a molding plastic clam shell shaped, engaznada in 23, and closed with a snap fit intertwining formations 33 on the two halves of the clam shell. As it is shown in Figures 2 and 4 more clearly, the housing has a flange 41  that is projected backwards that forms a shovel or tray with a slot 42 that opens upwards, to catch water that moves down from the edge. This water is guided towards the interior of the housing which can then fill it. In the US style systems. UU. in which the water of rinsed flows down the surface of the cup of toilet, the housing can be positioned with the flange 41 against the cup surface. The flange can extend outward to facilitate it In addition, a row of four slots 43 is specified, 44, 45 and 46 arched on the rear vertical face 31, to admit rinse water in the housing. It specifies even another row of four openings 47, 48, 49 and 50 straight along the upper wall 30 of the housing to admit water from rinsed

A pair of small openings are specified 51 adjacent to hinge 32 at the base of the housing, to allow that the water drain slowly from the housing once the rinsed Said water will contain a dissolved part of the treatment composition that is maintained in a first block 28 solid inside the housing. In this example, the small openings 51 are formed by notches 51a and 51c in the form of "u" on the edge of the back of the shaped molding clam shell, which cooperate with the corresponding notches 51b and 51d of the other half of the clam shell, as shown in figure 5.

The interior of the lower wall 26 of the housing is formed with a series of four projections 27 of parallel support, shown in figures 2 and 5, to support the treatment block 28 and allow water flow below the same. The back of the treatment block 28 will rest against the inner surface of the housing. The previous part of treatment block 28 is kept away from a second fragrance block 24 by a series of battlements 25, typically 1 to 4 mm high, shown in figures 2 and 5, formed as inward projections on flange 22 that extend internally from an opening in the anterior wall 21. The battlements 25 serve to space the anterior surface of the block 28 treatment that fills or blocks the opening 9 of the wall 21 above, as shown in figures 2 and 6. This allows the water flows around the entire surface of block 28 of treatment, and contact the back surface of the block 24 of fragrance, and allows the fragrance to evaporate from the rear face of block 24, inside the housing.

As shown more clearly in figures 2 and 5, the flange 22 extends internally transverse to the face 21 anterior wall and supports and protects the edge of block 24 of fragrance between its two main walls facing each other. A flange or shelf 23 extends internally from flange 22, parallel to the anterior surface 21 of the wall, to locate block 24 of fragrance The flange 22 can be continuous or it can be a series of sections or short nails. A continuous flange is preferred for maintain contact with the edge of the fragrance block when or if It contracts when the fragrance evaporates.

In this example, the accommodation has, approximately, a height and width of 60 mm and a depth  40 mm and the length of the hook is adjustable between 50 mm and 80 mm

A typical fragrance-impregnated gel, which forms the fragrance block 24 will contract as the fragrance evaporates during use, about 1 mm around its perimeter, in the radial direction. For this reason the shelf 23 it has to be wide enough to accommodate said contraction in use, while retaining, however, the 24 gel block and the plugging of the opening. By way of comparison, the contraction from the front to the back of the gel block 24 may typically be less than 0.5 mm in each side of a block whose thickness is 6 to 8 mm. The degree of contraction it will depend on the polymer matrix that forms the gel, and the volume percentage of perfume in the gel.

The openings of the housing are separated transversely of the main vertical surface of block 24 of fragrance, but nevertheless the water will cascade with a flow turbulent on the front face of the housing and block 24 and in the toilet systems. The block can be in contact briefly with the water trapped in the housing, which can contain dissolved 28 block constituents, but with the proper choice of materials, such as gel and fragrance hydrophobic for block 24, this exposure is insufficient to produce a significant rinse of the fragrance composition in water.

The composition of the treatment block can be one of those known in the art and, for example, the one described in WO 03/042462. This type of compositions can include one or more dyes, a surfactant, a bleach or other disinfectant, and an inhibitor or eliminator of lime layers. A composition comprising a surfactant and / or a dye is especially preferred.

Preferred block formulations are, in % of weight:

Example A

Alkyl aryl sulfonate Sodium (80%)

40

Alpha-olefin sulfonate sodium (80% active)

twenty

Coconut Monoethanolamide

5

Alcohol ethoxylate

5

Sodium sulfate

rest

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Example B

Alkyl aryl sulfonate (80%)

26

Alpha-olefin sulfonate sodium

12

Sodium Alkane Sulphonate secondary

5

Hydrophobes

5

Sulfate sodium

rest

Example C

Alkyl aryl sulfonate sodium (80%)

40

Alpha-olefin sulfonate sodium

twenty

Monoethanolamide from coconut

5

Hydrophobes

5

Sulfate sodium

rest

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To maximize the active ingredients of the block the amount of hydrophobe is reduced, and the amount is limited of water entering the accommodation by the size of the housing wall openings to reduce the speed of block solubilization.

When using a bleach contained in the block 28, the necessary amount of bleach contained in the block and, therefore, dissolved, can be minimized by limiting the water flow from the housing so that most of the water in the housing flow into the cup after that the contents of the cup have been filled by water rinsed

Suitable gel formulations with content of fragrance are described in WO 02/066084, specifically in examples 1 to 7.

Preferred formulations have a Fragrance percentage between 30% and 70% by weight in a polymeric gelling agent such as ETPA (polyamide terminated in esters) as in WO 98/17243 or ATPA. Is especially preferably about 50% by weight gelidifier polymeric ETPA or ATPA and 50% by weight fragrance oil with a dye

The necessary stiffness of the gel will depend in part of the size of the opening of the wall of the housing. Thus a sinuous contour opening is preferred so that it has a large area but maintaining a smaller width in at least one Direction through the opening. The opening can be saved by support nerves that can be introduced into the gel body or be exposed to provide a part of the decorative effect. A honeycomb or grid structure can also be provided in gels that are less self-supporting.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the contour of the anterior wall opening 21 is shaped irregular, in this case it has a spiral shape that is designed to add aesthetic merit to the design as a whole. Besides, the composition of the gel from which the fragrance block is made could include, for example, two or more different contrasting colors, formed in a combination of aesthetic colors. Even more, the outer surface can be stamped with a shape, such as dimples 61 of different sizes, to provide more effect aesthetic.

In more rigid gels, the gel may be formed with openings in the gel, thus increasing the area of the exposed gel surface to increase the emission of fragrance.

The dispenser can be packaged in a container of Plastic bubbles of the type known for grooming products. Next, the dispenser is fixed on the edge of the toilet, of way to hang vertically, with the accommodation in line with Water flow during rinsing. The 21st face is Orient in the toilet. Whenever the toilet is rinse then the water passes inside the housing and then drains slowly from the housing, being the period of permanence of that water sufficient to allow Some of the treatment composition dissolves in water. Due at the relatively short period, typically about 10 seconds after the start of rinsing, during which the block  treatment is exposed to water, only one dissolves limited quantity, reasonably controlled. Also, because This period of time is relatively short, the effect of water which contacts the inner surface of the fragrance block is minimum.

The inner surface of block 24 of fragrance is continuously exposed to the air in the housing, what which allows fragrance vapor to emerge through the openings in the surrounding space of the toilet. At the same time, there is a continuous dispersion of steam from the outer surface of the 24 block of fragrance in the surrounding space. In this way the Effective surface area of the fragrance block is a large part of the area of its total area, excluding the edge that is in contact with flange 22.

In this example, the dispenser is designed to be disposable at the end of his life. This may be indicated. by disappearing the block, or more easily using a treatment block containing a dye or a surfactant, indicating the absence of color or foam in the toilet bowl the end of life When the fragrance is depleted, it is preferred that the matrix of the fragrance block keep plugging the opening of the anterior wall of the housing.

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The dispenser is manufactured as follows. Molding One piece plastic shown in figure 5 is produced by injection molding substantially with the configuration shown in figure 5. This is then placed on a disk so that the disk hooks the front face 21 of that half of clam shell. The fragrance gel is poured in liquid form in the molding chamber formed by the disc and the flange 22, with the growth level greater than that of edge 23, to form the gel block 24 which is then allowed to solidify. Typically, the disc is polished and thermally conductive, preferably of aluminum, and preferably has a raised projection of height 1 mm approximately, complementary to that of the opening. The elevation of the surface ensures the correct coincidence of the disk with the wall 21 of the housing, and the gel is prevented drip during the molding procedure. An alternative would be that the disc had an entree hooked by a protrusion of the shell of accommodation.

The disc may be stamped or otherwise formed to present the decorative forms required in the gel block surface. A gel with a surface three-dimensional would allow an evaporation rate of the increased fragrance Different nozzles can be provided for the different colors of the gel, and achieve the desired aesthetic effect Mixing colors The disk may have protrusions that extend to through the thickness of the gel layer, to form openings interns in the molded gel block.

Once the gel has solidified and the disc it has separated from the clam shell, it drops a block of treatment on the back of the half shell 29, and closes the clam shell folding it around its hinge 32, until the interenganche formations 33 close it by snap fit. Then the housing is closed except the openings of water admission.

It can be seen that materials can be used alternatives to the fragrance block, other than gels; however the block has to be rigid enough to Act as opening plug.

In addition, the dispenser may take forms and different configurations, and not needing a carrier 11, for example, if it were effectively locked under the edge of the toilet by other means.

In Japanese-style toilets in which water flows from an open tap at the top of the cistern of the toilet, the housing may be resting on top of the cistern on legs, for example. Thus rinsing the composition of treatment of block 28 in the cistern. An embodiment of this type is shown in figure 7. A plastic housing is of the type of clam shell and has halves 102, 104 upper e lower. The legs 106 hang down from the lower half 104 of the housing to place the dispenser in the opening of drainage above the cistern of the Japanese-style toilet, as is known in the art. A solid block 28 sits inside of housing 100 on the upper half 102. Openings 108 allow the water to enter the upper half 102 to contact with block 28 and exit through openings 110 in the middle lower. A block 24 of fragrance-impregnated gel fills a heart-shaped opening 112 of the upper surface 114 of the upper half 102 of the housing. The gel block 24 provides An attractive appearance as well as the fragrance of perfume. Perimeter of opening 112 may be configured as the perimeter of the opening 9 of the first embodiment with a flange defining the periphery of the opening 114 and an edge extending towards inside from the flange to position the gel block 24 as shows in cross section detailed in figure 7.

Depending on the direction and flow of water from rinsed, the arrangement of the openings is designed for use with the most commercially available toilets, but it should be appreciate that other provisions are possible, even the right ones for specific types of toilet bowl.

Claims (21)

1. A dispenser (10) for unloading a treatment composition in a toilet, and a fragrance in the surrounding space, comprising:

a first block (28) of the treatment composition;

one second block (24) of material impregnated with the fragrance; Y

a housing (8) with openings for the admission of water into the housing and to allow water to drain out of the housing, and having an interior space to house the first block (28) of the treatment composition in contact with the water , characterized in that

accommodation (8) maintains the second block (24) so that the second block (24) is located in an opening in the wall of the housing and allows a main surface of the second block (24) is exposed to the outside of the housing and that a main surface opposite to the previous one of the second block (24) is in fluid communication with the interior space of the housing (8) to allow the emission of fragrance through the accommodation openings.

2. A dispenser in accordance with the claim 1, wherein the housing is a hollow shell and the wall opening has an internally extending flange in the shell, the flange supporting an edge of the second block between their main surfaces facing. 3. A dispenser according to the claim 2, wherein the flange has a projection that is extends into the opening to place the second block. 4. A dispenser according to the claim 2 or 3, wherein the flange has projections that are extend inside the housing to beyond the main inner surface of the second block, to separate it from the first block. 5. A dispenser according to the claim 1, wherein the wall opening is on one side of the accommodation that is right in use, and the openings of water intake and drain are separated from the opening of the wall so that the second block is not in the flow path Direct water between those openings. 6. A dispenser according to the claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the wall opening is in one side of the housing that is straight in use, and the openings of water intake and drain are separated from the opening of the wall; and in which the flange protects the edge of the second from water block. 7. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a hook attached to the housing for detachable hanging from a cup edge of the toilet 8. A dispenser according to the claim 7, wherein the hook is attached to the housing in a wall that supports the second block. 9. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has internal support formations for the support of a first base block in use and allow water to flow below it. 10. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second block and the Wall opening have irregularly shaped contours. 11. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second block is formed with a decorative design on its main surface Exterior. 12. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second block is formed of materials of two or more contrasting colors to form a decorative design visible on its main surface Exterior. 13. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is a molding of a piece of plastic. 14. A dispenser in accordance with the claim 13, wherein the housing is formed of a one-piece plastic shell-shaped clam molding engoznada, a part of which consists of the wall plugged by The second block. 15. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second block It comprises a gel. 16. A dispenser in accordance with the claim 15, wherein the gel comprises a polymeric matrix which has the fragrance scattered inside. 17. A dispenser in accordance with the claim 16, wherein, in use, the gel plugs the opening of the wall and contracts as the fragrance evaporates but Continue plugging the wall opening. 18. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition of first block treatment comprises one or more dyes, a surfactant and a bleach. 19. A method of manufacturing a dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it produces the housing (8) and the molding of the second block (24) of material impregnated with the fragrance inside the opening of Wall. 20. A procedure in accordance with the claim 19, which includes loading the housing with a First block (28) of the treatment composition. 21. A procedure in accordance with the claim 19 or 20, wherein the housing is formed of a one-piece plastic shell-shaped clam molding engoznada, a part of which consists of the wall plugged by the second block, which comprises the closing of the molding in the form of clam shell around the second block and around its hinge, to secure each other.